I'm not sure there is much value as viewing the inner child as a separate and distinct part of you as an adult. I don't see the her and me. I see the her in me.

I mean I get the theory behind it, but the two (child and adult) are the same person.

I'm not sure you can pull out the inner child and treat her, I think the treatment should be of the adult sitting and present today.

I can certainly go back and envision myself as a child, and feel the things I went through then, and even offer comfort, but I use those reflections to improve myself as an adult and to comfort myself as an adult.

Maybe the inner child is a safe place to deflect fear and pain. Like separating it from what we feel now? If that's the case, then, I'm sorry, but I can't see that as anything but another hurdle to overcome.